Red Wings rookie Cory Emmerton sticks in lineup as fourth-line center

DETROIT -- Being a center has helped Detroit Red Wings rookie Cory Emmerton remain in the lineup while other fourth-line players are rotating in and out.

But Emmerton’s position alone won’t keep him in the lineup. He knows he must continue to provide energy, be solid on the penalty kill and improve in the faceoff circle.

"We need a center, so he’s got an advantage right there if he can continue to play well," coach Mike Babcock said. "He’s skated well, he’s looked after the puck well. He’s been pretty good in the circle, he’s been good on the penalty kill.

"It’s all part of the growing process. I think he’s done a real good job."

Emmerton’s play has prompted Babcock to scratch veteran Patrick Eaves in two of the first three games and has kept Fabian Brunnstrom from making his Red Wings debut.

"What I’m trying to do is make sure when I make changes it’s not just to make a change to get someone going," Babcock said. "And yet these guys got to play eventually."

Babcock needs Emmerton to fill that fourth-line center spot because he doesn’t want to break up the third line of Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm and Todd Bertuzzi.

"It’s been nice being in every game so far and I hope to continue that, (but) one bad game and you’re going to be out," Emmerton said. "So it’s important for me to play really well every game. I’m up to the challenge and looking forward to it."

Emmerton said he improved on faceoffs in 2010-11, his final season in Grand Rapids. But he has some work to do at this level, after starting the season winning only 5-of-16 draws (31.3 percent).

"It’s a lot tougher, obviously, when you move up and go against some of the best guys in the world in the faceoff circle," Emmerton said. "But working every day here with some of the centermen -- Pavel (Datsyuk) Helmer (Darren Helm) and Z (Henrik Zetterberg) -- they’re great centermen and all very good on draws, so it’s going to be good just to battle with them in faceoffs after practice.

"I won’t get a lot of leniency in the circle early with the refs. I won’t be able to cheat too much. I’m just going to have to work my way up to that."